Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Yang Si was indeed a bit of a wimp. He had never thought that Jiang Pengji would so rapidly rise to power.
In just one or two years, she had gone from a figurehead county magistrate of Xiangyang District during its occupation by the Tsing Yi Army to her current position. She had become a “provincial magistrate” who almost had the entire province under her control.
For many people riding the ups and downs of officialdom, to go from a county magistrate to the provincial magistrate was a long road that was nearly impossible to navigate in a lifetime.
The more he learned about Jiang Pengji, the greater the urgency in Yang Si’s heart became.
One could say that he was a wimp or a coward, but no matter what, being cowardly was better than dying.
Wei Ci and Yang Si had known each other for many years. Smart people communicate easily. Even without stating things explicitly, the two could understand each other’s thoughts.
To use the words of the livestream’s viewers, the rapport between these two guys was so strong that you’d think they’d slept together. The gayer they were, the stronger their rapport.
Wei Ci tucked his hands into the opposite sleeves. “So this means that…” With a look that was not quite a smile, he said, “You’ll be changing how you address Her Majesty?”
Yang Si’s expression was stiff and a little dark. He finally stammered out after a long time, “How do I say this? I’m also a talent… For me to admit defeat so simply, where do you want me to put my face? I can change how I address her, but she should show me a sign first… ”
Earlier, he had spoken loudly and powerfully as if making a solemn vow. Now, his old words were ringing in his ears.
If Yang Si took the initiative to soften his stance and admit his mistakes, wouldn’t he be slapping his own face?
In any case, he also needed to act reservedly for a while. Throwing himself over to her side of his own volition… What if she did not value his action?
He should wait until Jiang Pengji could see his talents and usefulness before offering her an olive branch. In this way, the sovereign and his lord could have a harmonious relationship.
Wei Ci raised his sleeves and covered the smile forming at the corner of his lips. He said, “If you want to wait for Her Majesty to verbally express that she has softened her stance towards you, I’m afraid that you will be waiting a long time. Jing Rong, you have followed Her Majesty for some time, when did you ever see her soften towards anyone? Don’t blame me for not reminding you, but Prince Changshou is still waiting to serve you your comeuppance. If the prince remembers how you made a sport of him and wants to settle that old score, tsk tsk…”
Wei Ci shook his head with regret as he spoke. Yang Si’s expression seemed to cramp; his face kept twitching.
“You… Just leave that sore spot alone. Can you not mention that matter with Prince Changshou?”
After Wei Ci’s reminder, Yang Si recalled a very dishonest matter.
When he job-hopped away from Prince Changshou, he’d dug a large hole for the prince to fall into.
If not for Yang Si’s secret retaliation against Prince Changshou, causing them to lose the battle at the frontlines… According to the situation at the time, Prince Changshou should have captured Chenzhou long ago, killed the emperor, and put himself on the throne. He would not have been caught in a deadlock for more than a year while his original advantages transformed into disadvantages otherwise. Besides, he had also been put into the predicament of food shortages and escaping soldiers.
It could be said that, if not for the alliance with Meng Zhan in the middle of things, Prince Changshou would not have been able to endure for so long. He would have withdrawn his soldiers and returned to his feudal lands.
If one had to guess who the prince hated the most, Yang Si was a safe bet.
Wei Ci smiled. As his incomparably handsome face broke into a smile, it was as if a hundred flowers were full bloom. One instantly recognized that he was a remarkably beautiful human in this world.
“Okay, okay… I’ll stop talking about this.” Wei Ci and Yang Si walked shoulder to shoulder, a smiling undertone in their words.
The had agreed to get along in the earlier part of their conversation, but the thread of discussion had taken a sharp turn towards the end.
“Because we’ve been friends for many years, there is something I must remind you of.”
Yang Si asked with a scowl, “What is it?”
Wei Ci straightforwardly said, “In this huge Dongqing Dynasty, who else can protect you besides Her Majesty? She is stubborn like a donkey who doesn’t walk when it is lead and retreats when it is beaten. The more you force her, the more she likes to act pig-headedly. To be succinct, she is headstrong. Jing Rong, you have always called her ‘County Magistrate Liu,’ but have you ever seen her taking offense? For her to show that she has softened her stance and is amenable to persuasion, I’m afraid that it is impossible. But if you don’t soften your stance and admit your mistakes, it would be difficult for you to stay alive.”
Yang Si’s expression had become so dark that it resembled the soot found on the bottom of a pot. His hands felt so itchy. He really wanted to throttle Wei Ci.
He used to look at Wei Ci and think of him as noble and benevolent.
Now that he looked at Wei Ci again, he felt that he must have been blind. If this man was cut apart with a knife, his flesh and blood would be black, not to mention his heart.
“Continue to deride me. If you don’t watch your mouth, you might fall headfirst one day.”
Yang Si snorted through his nose. He seemed to be very angry.
The two friends bantered as they left the Government Office together.
Xu Ke and the others were busy with their work and took their leave. Only Qiguan Rang was left. He very slowly shuffled his feet on the woven mat, refusing to get up.
When all the others were gone, Jiang Pengji turned her attention to the Qiguan Rang.
She asked, “Wenzheng, I wanted you to ask about a matter. What’s the answer?”
Qiguan Rang pinched his beard nervously, feeling that something major was about to happen. But Jiang Pengji’s expression remained unperturbed, surprising him.
“Your Majesty….”
His lips opened and closed. He’d only managed to squeeze out two words. There was not an ounce of the usual confidence he derived from his glib tongue and charming words.
Jiang Pengji chuckled. She temporarily closed down the livestreaming room and said, “Say it. No matter what the answer is, I can bear it. I had requested that you write a letter to Mr. Wei Yuan… With the time that has passed, you should have a reply by now. ”
Qiguan Rang hesitated for a long while before carefully repeating the contents of Mr. Wei Yuan’s reply.
Jiang Pengji listened with a dull expression. The more her expression remained unchanged, the more that Qiguan Rang felt that he was about to be scared witless.
Finally.
“Your Majesty, I think that perhaps… there is a misunderstanding. Please, I ask of Your Majesty….”
Jiang Pengji looked down with a gentle smile. Her expression did not seem to be clouded in the least.
“Wenzheng, you don’t need to persuade or console me. I’ve had a sense of this matter for some time, but there had been no evidence before now…” Jiang Yanji curled her lips. That gesture of indifference was very natural, and there were no cracks in it. “In addition, Wenzheng… This matter is far more complicated than what you imagine, and it may also involve fields that ordinary people can’t imagine. However, I’m confident in solving it. After all, I’m the sovereign that you’ve chosen, so you should have a little confidence too. If I can’t even take care of such things, wouldn’t I be letting down your trust in me? You’ve staked everything on in one bold move.”
Although Qiguan Rang had a sly mind and his style of scheming seemed to be identical to Yang Si’s and Feng Zhen’s, there were differences to be found between the men upon closer analysis.
Yang Si loved to use conspiracy and deception, but he could see the facts clearly. He was able to distinguish what was slight and what was serious. He was the best at taking stock of the situation.
Feng Zhen loved to have fun. There was no order or rules of doing things. Everything depended on what he liked. His thinking was crafty and his plots even more fickle and strange.
As for Qiguan Rang…
He had some characteristics of Yang Si and Feng Zhen, but he was also different from them.
The fact that Feng Zhen loved to show off was obvious, but Qiguan Rang did not like to stand out. The idiom “play safe by not calling attention to oneself” had sunk into his bones.
Yang Si’s weakness was obvious. He would soften his stance and admit his mistakes when circumstances forced him to. However, Qiguan Rang was relatively obstinate in all respects and had strong principles.
“Playing safe by not calling attention to oneself” did not mean that one was also “flexible and could take advantage of the situation.”
It was Qiguan Rang who had chosen Jiang Pengji. It was almost like he had staked everything he had on one last gamble on her.
Even if her purpose was only to keep the trust and loyalty shown to her by her group of “teenage princesses,” Jiang Pengji would not allow herself to lose.
Jiang Pengji had a determined attitude. Qiguan Rang could only swallow the words he wanted to say.
Her Majesty had come to a strategic decision, he would speak no more.
To say something that’s quite wimpy, when Jiang Pengji asked him to carry out the investigation, Qiguan Rang was shocked.
